Annual Country Report 2022: Mauritania. Country Strategic Plan 2019-2024

Annual Country Report 2022: Mauritania. Country Strategic Plan 2019-2024

Rome (Italy): World Food Programme, 2022.

English

88 p.

ELR1542

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania experienced increased fragility in 2022, resulting from the multi-faceted challenges of the climate crisis and associated shocks, the economic consequences of the post-COVID-19 pandemic times and the ongoing Ukraine crisis in tandem with the continuing conflict in Mali. These factors have had adverse implications on the food security and nutrition situation of vulnerable Mauritanians and Malian refugees residing within the country. Despite these challenges, WFP reached 390,970 beneficiaries (52 percent female and 48 percent male). During the fourth year of its Country Strategic Plan (CSP), as part of its humanitarian response, WFP assisted over 335,631 vulnerable people with cash transfers totalling USD 18.9 million. Together with the Government, WFP scaled up the much-needed humanitarian assistance to reach targeted beneficiaries during the 2022 pre-lean season and lean season with cash transfers, capitalizing on the government’s social registry. Cash assistance was coupled with blanket supplementary feeding for children aged 6-23 months and pregnant and lactating women and girls to prevent malnutrition. The response further involved providing technical support to the Government for the provision of cash assistance. In contribution to SDG 17 (Partnerships), WFP continued to work with other UN agencies and NGOs to carry out its humanitarian and development programmes. In collaboration with UNHCR, WFP assisted some 76,133 Malian refugees with in-kind food and cash assistance in the Mbera Refugee Camp. However, due to insufficient funds, reduced rations were provided to stretch available resources and reach the most vulnerable throughout the year. WFP also provided a holistic resilience package comprised of nutrition intervention, school feeding, and resilience-building activities in three of the most-affected areas of the country[1]. WFP implemented the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) with its implementing partners in 916 health centres, serving a total of 35,534 children aged 6-59 months and 7,141 pregnant and lactating women receiving specialized nutritious foods throughout the year. Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) activities help create environment-friendly livelihoods in areas with increased desertification and land degradation with nutrient-poor soils. In this context, the sustainable management of natural resources remains a national priority. By providing complementary services that can alleviate pressure on natural resources, WFP’s intervention supported the rehabilitation of 524 ha of agricultural land with irrigation schemes. WFP also supported some 29,648 people with creating and maintaining productive assets that allowed for greater water conversation, leading to enhanced agricultural productivity. WFP further worked with the Government to implement a national school feeding programme in response to decreased attendance and increased drop-out rates. In 2022, WFP supported over 50,061 vulnerable school children with two daily meals in 381 schools as part of its integrated resilience package.

ELR 1542

eng

MON-127137